Is criminal behavior rational?

Tim Ferriss has discussed the rationality behind criminal behavior through a conversation with Matt Mochary. Mochary shares how he observed that in environments with limited opportunities, such as the slums of Rio de Janeiro and the South Bronx, joining a drug gang was often the most viable option for young people. This was not because they were inherently bad, but because it provided the best chance for survival and income in a context where legitimate opportunities were scarce. This led Mochary to the startling realization that criminal behavior in these circumstances could be seen as rational, given the limited choices available to these individuals 1 .

Mochary further elaborated on his experiment to help a recently released inmate find and maintain a legitimate job to see if they could avoid reverting to criminal activities. This initiative was inspired by the understanding that, when placed in better circumstances, individuals could potentially shift away from criminal behaviors, indicating that these behaviors were indeed rational responses to their previous environments 1 .

This perspective aligns with the broader notion that behavior, including criminal actions, is often influenced by the situational context and available alternatives.